Guidance for Authors, Writers and Readers

Screening Advice From Others

If you ever felt that the world is full of people giving advice, then you might be right. A lot of people do know a lot of different things. One of my favorite places to get advice is from Nathan Bransford‘s blog. He gives great advice on how to write a novel, to how to write a query letter. Here is one of my favorite posts by Nathan which is the best query letter examples written: Good Query Letter

There are many different formulas out there. But just follow the one that is repeated and accepted by the publishing companies. Bransford gives a good formula for creating a query letter. But maybe you don’t want to take this guy’s word for it. Here is some other sources from some credible authors and agents: How not to get an agent and Before you query

I love to use Writers Digest books. Their newest addition is 2013 Children’s Writer‘s & Illustrators Market. You can buy it on Amazon: Writers Digest 2013 . This book gives writers advice on how to write a query letter to what publishing company is actively accepting query letters. There is a helpful section from authors. Their advice for new authors and how they received their big break is worth the read. I know I just want to skip to the back and start making my list of potential companies and individuals I want to query. But the sections on writing are very helpful. From the editor he says, “If you flip through this book’s pages, the first thing you may notice is a whole ton of upfront instructional articles.” – Chuck Samuchino, editor of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market/ Guide to Literary Agents

There are a lot of writers in my own critique group who says this is “the time to become published”. I know I have also heard this at writers conferences sponsored by SCBWI. Agents, editors and authors all agree this is the time to become self-published with either an e-book format or paper. The e-books are hot right now. And if you Google which publishing company has the most e-books out then you would find Random House at the top of the list. They have a lot of e-books that are selling like hot-cakes. Take a look at their new reformated website and see: Random House . There is advice given from different publishers who want to see books only through agents. But there are a lot of authors/agents that are saying that you can do it yourself. You don’t need an agent. Take it from Maria Lamba who said:

“For a LONG time we have plodded along with certainties. And the main truth was that a big publisher = big success. Signing with big publishers meant contracts with great advances, reviews in prominent publications, your book would appear in all bookstores, you’d have tons of publicity and promotion, and you were well on your way to a long CAREER as an author.

Then this “given” started to erode as all the publishing models began to shift. A large number of editors were laid off in 2008. Authors were suddenly expected to do more of their own promotions. Book reviews in many print publications began to disappear. There was no guarantee that your book would appear in the major chains or indies (even before the demise of Borders). And now we hear a lot from authors about low advances, or no contracts being offered on a next book.

Yes, the economy has a ton to do with all of this. And Ebooks have come in at an especially crazy time. We fear they may pose a threat to print books. The pricing of Ebooks is a huge issue. Brick and mortar stores feel threatened by Ebook sales.

And let’s pile onto this, indie publishing, which is on the rise.

All these factors together add to an overall sense of instability in what was once a fairly predictable business model for publishers, booksellers and authors.”

The only thing a writer needs to take away from the overwhelming advice from so many different venues is: “Does it matter to me?” We are all in charge of our fate and we decide if we want our careers to soar like an eagle or fall like a lead balloon. There is always going to be someone out there who will have some great advice. But do you really care? And if so, are you willing to follow that advice?

Expressive and Emotional word content... poetic justice... my thoughts are perceptive, occasionally subjective but always dimensional. My career lies in psychology and my mind lies in philosophy. To question and ponder is to reflect. I am both reflective and directive. I never walk with caution as our steps need their footprints. I love this journey we call life.

Damyanti Biswas is an author, blogger, animal-lover, spiritualist. Her work is represented by Ed Wilson from the Johnson & Alcock agency. When not pottering about with her plants or her aquariums, you can find her nose deep in a book, or baking up a storm.